by Angela Arndt, @aearndt
It doesn’t feel like Christmas today, does it? Very little holiday cooking. Fewer family members around the table. Maybe no children opening presents. (We can only hope the gifts arrived on-time.)
We’ve gone back to a time of shortages, recycling, and reusing everything possible. Even the news recycles the same three topics: the pandemic, the presidential race, and our pocketbooks.
I’ve enjoyed the free television streaming services and the live-action fairytales remakes. The exotic settings and costumes take me away from life’s fear and sadness for a little while.
You see, Hubby’s got atrial fibrillation and tires very easily. Medications and an outpatient procedure have helped a little, but he can’t seem gain his strength.
How I wish fairytales were real and a certain ice queen appeared at the hospital, removed her gloves, and touched hubby’s chest, setting his heartrate back to normal.
She can’t because, despite all my wishing, she’s not real.
I’m thankful for the similar real-life solution the doctor’s going to try that utilizes a tube to freeze a section of his heart. If all goes to plan, Hubby will be fine. No more procedures. No medications.
Maybe real-life can be magical.
Remember hearing the Christmas story when you were little? The little baby in a manger lay spotlighted by a star, visited by shepherds who hear his story from the angels. Then Wise Men came to find the King of kings — remember their ominous meeting with Herod, who pretended to be their friend? I love how they blessed the baby with precious gifts, then went home another way when they were warned in a dream. And don’t forget the angel who guarded the Holy Family and told them to go to Egypt to escape the evil king.
All of this sounds like a fairytale, but we know this baby grew into a man who changed our world. Those in power plotted against Jesus, and he sacrificed his life for us.
Think about the real man today, not the ceramic baby in a manger among the nativity scene on the mantle.
As you open your presents, think of his gift of eternal life.
When you hear carols, think of the thousands who gathered to listen to Jesus.
As you watch virtual Christmas Day parades, remember the procession who followed Christ to Golgotha and the shrouded rooms where his disciples hid.
And as you mourn those missing from your table, remember how Christ left the tomb and conquered death and the grave.
Life isn’t a fairytale.
It’s far, far better.
Merry Christmas and may God bless us all in 2021!
Angela Arndt writes women’s fiction with a thread of romance, telling stories of strong, independent women in difficult situations set in small Southern towns. Her biggest hope is that she will encourage her readers to overcome their own “back roads” and find joy in the Lord again. Represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary Agency, Angela has a Master’s Degree from the University of South Carolina and continues learning the craft of writing fiction through the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Novel Academy. Connect with her at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram